IDF reply to Red Cross announcement

The IDF wishes to clarify that counter to the November 1, 2000 announcement of the Red Cross, the Palestinian Red Crescent does make use of its offices and ambulances to carry out live fire in the territories.

On October 31, 2000, live fire was directed at the Psagot settlement from Red Crescent offices in Ramallah and from one of its passing ambulances.

Previous to this serious incident, we are aware of at least four other cases:

On October 22, 2000, an armed gunman fled in a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance after firing on the Jewish settlement in Hebron. On October 27, 2000, during an exchange of gunfire between the IDF and Palestinians in the direction on Kfar Kalil (near Shechem), a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance arrived carrying a number of armed Palestinians reinforcements. On October 27, 2000, an ambulance was used to bring armed Palestinian policemen to points of friction with the IDF near the Karni passing in the Gaza Strip. On October 30-31, 2000, ambulances were used to bring Palestinian protesters to points of friction with the IDF near the Karni passing in the Gaza Strip.

This use of ambulances and offices of the Palestinian Red Crescent negates the special status and protection granted by humanitarian international law to medical teams and facilities and is morally unacceptable.

It seems strange that the International Red Cross would choose to publish such a one-sided announcement without checking sources or asking the IDF for comment.